Indonesia's polio cases rise to 34: WHO

Indonesia's polio cases rise to 34: WHO

Indonesia has reported six new polio infections, bringing to 34
the number of cases since the crippling disease re-emerged in the
country last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

In a statement received on Friday, the WHO said the six cases
were all found on the western side of Java island.

The outbreak is the first in Indonesia in a decade.
Indonesia has inoculated 6.2 million children since late last
month in a bid to stamp out the disease, which can cause
irreversible paralysis in a matter of hours.

The first cases were reported in early May near the city of
Sukabumi in West Java province, 100 km (62 miles) south of
Jakarta.

WHO, which wants to halt the spread of polio worldwide in
2005, has said it expected a slight increase in the Indonesian
total because authorities had been investigating a number of
suspected cases.

The U.N. agency has battled a series of setbacks to its global
campaign since Nigeria's northern state of Kano banned
immunization out of fear it could cause sterility or spread
HIV/AIDS. Vaccination resumed after a 10-month ban.

Indonesia is one of a number of countries where polio has re-
emerged after being imported from West Africa. Saudi Arabia and
Yemen have also suffered outbreaks.

The viral disease of the brain and spinal cord mainly affects
children under five. Some cases are fatal.

Indonesian health officials have said the virus may have been
carried by a migrant worker or a Haj pilgrim who visited Saudi
Arabia before returning to Indonesia, the world's most populous
Muslim nation. -- Reuters